Mail-handling apparatus.



M. M. MILLER 6: G. S. STEINBERGER.

MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 14, 1908.

902,986. Patafited N8R3 1998. 4-8IIEETB-BKEET 1.

E 2. Ljlill'lilllllH A TTORNE Y S M. M. MILLER & G. S. STEINBERGER.

MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APB,.14, 1908.

902,986, Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

WITNESSES 76 INVENTORJ 71 J12 lo J1. .Zlz'llar l. w W

A TTOHNE Y S m: Nonms Parties r0. wunmcvcm n. c

M. M. MILLER & G. S. STEINBERGER.

MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR 14, 1908.

902,986. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES i205 INVENTORY JfLZa M/Jfdlier A TTOHNE )S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILO MONROE MILLER AND GEORGE SOLOMON STEINBERGER, OF ALLENTOWN, PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO FRED E. LEWIS, OF ALLENTOWN, PENN- SYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MILO MONROE MIL- LER and GEORGE SOLOMON STEINBERGER, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mail handling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this class which is used with mail or other railroad cars for receiving and delivering mail bags, and is adapted to be arranged adjacent, to a railroad track, and which has means for receiving mail bags from a train and delivering the same to a train while the latter is in motion.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient mail handling apparatus by means of which mail bags can be delivered and received from rapidly moving trains traveling in either direction along a railroad track, and by means of which the mail bags are securely held in position after bein received or delivered, so that there is no danger of the bags being drawn under the train and destroyed or injured thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the class described, the operation of which obviates excessive wear of the mail ba s and the apparatus, which is reversible so that it can be used for trains traveling in either direction, and in which the mechanism carried by the railroad car does not have to be held or manually 0 erated by a mail clerk or other person, w en receiving or delivering mail bags.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing a mail car having our invention applied thereto and traveling over a track adjacent to which is located mechanism of our invention for delivering mail bags to the car; Fi 2 is a plan view of the railroad car and the delivering mechanism, having a part of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 14, 1908.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 426,957.

car broken away to show the receiving mechanism; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the receiving mechanism mounted at the door of a mail car; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of this receiving mechanism; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation showing the mechanism for delivering mail bags to the receiving mechanism of the mail car; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the delivering mechanism in an operative position and about to have a mail bag received therefrom by the receiving mechanism of the car; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mail bag holding arm of the delivering mechanism; Fig. 9 is an elevation showing a part of the mail bag holding arm carrying the ring secured to a mail bag; Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line 1010 of Fig. 11 and showing the standard and the pivoted post which supports the delivering mechanism; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a part of the standard and the post; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a mail car showing the same traveling upon a track adjacent to which is mounted another form of mail delivering mechanism having an arm for receiving mail bags from the car, the car having suitable delivering mechanism; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of a cradle for holding the mail bag and positioning it to be delivered; Fig. 1 1 is a transverse section of the cradle on the line 14- 14 of Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a plan view of the cradle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 20 represents a mail car of any pre ferred or common form traveling upon an ordinary railroad track 21. The car 20 has a side door 22 through which the mail bags can be received and delivered. Upon the side of the car adjacent to the rear edge of the door is mounted a socket member 23 having at the outside, adjacent members 24 and 25 which, together with the socket member 23 are securely mounted in position by means of bolts 26. Between the socket member 23 and the member 24 is formed a sub stantially horizontal bore or opening 27 of circular cross section. Between the socket member 23 and the member 25 is formed an Opening 28 of angular, preferably of square section. A. rod 29 is mounted in the openings 27 and 28 of the socket and has a part 30 of circular cross section and a part 31 of angular cross section for the purpose. The part 31 is of less length than the part 30 and the rod 29 is slidable in the direction of its length. \Vhen the part 31 is located in the opening 28, the rod is held securely against rotation, but when the latter is moved in the direction of its length to bring the part 31 out of engagement with the opening 28, the rod is rotatable, as the part 30, like the opening 27, is of circular cross section. The rod has an enlarged portion 29 which limits the entrance of the rod into the socket.

At the side of the door opposite to the socket is mounted a support 32 secured in position by means of a bolt shank 33. The support 32 has a recess 34 to receive the end of the rod 29 and further, has a substantially vertical bore 35 intersecting the recess 34 and adapted to receive a pin 36. The latter has a head 37 and an eye 38 by means of which it can be secured to a chain 39 fastened to the side of the car. The head 37 protects the support to prevent the entrance of water, snow, sleet or the like into the bore 35 and the recess 34. The pin 36 serves to lock the rod 29 against movement in the dicection of its length and at the same time to hold it against a movement of rotation, as when the sin is in position the rod cannot be operatet to disengage the part. 31 from the opening 28.

A tapered receiving arm 40 is carried by the rod 29, having a laterally disposed part 41 formed integral with the rod, or rigidly secured thereto in any convenient manner. The part 41 has an extension 42 at the other side of the rod 29 and carries a counterbalancing weight 43 which at the same time serves as a handle to permit the manipulation of the receiver. The arm 40 has a portion 44 adjacent to the part 41, doubly curved to form an S, one loop 45 of which is adapted to receive a mail bag, as will appear more clearly hereinafter.

In Figs. 1 and 12, is shown a post 46 of any common construction, mounted upon a base 47. This post carries the mechanism for delivering mail bags to the train. Vi e prefer, however, to employ the post shown in Figs. 10 and 11, which comprises a standard 48 of cast iron or other suitable material, and having at the upper end a longitudinal bore 49. The standard is mounted upon any suitable base and can be locked at either side of a track, or intermediate two tracks. A post 50 having a constricted shank 51 is rotatably mounted by means of the latter upon the standard 48, the shank 51 being movably arranged in the bore 49. At one side, near the shank 51, the post has an extension 52 upon which is pivoted a hand lever 53 havin a slot 54 adapted to receive laterally exten ed ears 55 arran ed at opposite sides of the standard 49 and preferably formed integral therewith. The cars 55 have transverse openings 56 in which can be positioned a pin 57 serving to hold the lever 53 in position. It will. be understood that as the post is rotatable, the delivering mech anism can be reversed and can be held in opposite positions by means of the lever and the ears 55. At the upper end of the post is mounted a cross bar 58 having a socket 59 which pivotally carries a swinging arm 60, the latter having a pivot pin 61 for the purpose. The socket 59 is secured in position by means of bolts or rivets 62, and has a stud 63 upon which is arranged a helical spring (34. The latter has one end 65 secured to the cross bar 58 and the other end 66 pounded and fastened with a rounded band 67 to the arm 60. The spring 64 tends to hold the arm 60 in a normal, inoperative position against the cross bar 58, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 6. A cushion spring 68 mounted upon the cross bar 58 is adapted to be engaged by the arm as the latter swings back against the cross bar and to absorb the shock incident to the return of the arm to an inoperative position.

At the free end, the arm 60 has a keeper plate 69 preferably formed integral therewith and extending downwardly. Adjacent to the keeper plate, the arm has extensions 70 provided with registering openings adapted to receive a pintle 71 which carries a keeper 72. A spring 73 mounted upon the pintle 71 and having the ends secured respectively, to the keeper and the arm, tends normally to force the keeper against the keeper plate. The latter has studs 74 between which can be arranged a split ring 75 secured to a mail bag 77, and serving to mount a mail bag upon the deliverer. The ring 75 is preferably of steel. Preferably the ring 75 has an extension 76 provided with a slot by means of which it can be tied or otherwise secured to the bag 77. The latter at the end remote from the ring has a loop 78 formed from a leather strap or the like and adapted to be slipped upon the ring through the opening of the latter, so that the bag is held in a to ded or doubled position, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The studs 74, together with the keeper plate and the keeper, firmly hold the ring and the bag and prevent accidental. disengagement of the same from the deliverer. The receiving arm 40 of the mail car, when the latter passes the deliverer, enters the ring 75 when the arm 60 which carries the bag is outwardly disposed, and passes through the ring until the latter engages at the portion 44. This engagement pulls the ring loose from the deliverer, the keeper 72 swinging outward against the resistance of the spring 73 and permitting the release of the ring. The latter has assumed a position in the loop 45 of the S-shaped portion of the receiving arm and. is thus held against accidental displacement. The part 41 of the receiving arm adjacent to the rod .29 is considerably thinner than the rest of the arm -14). and permits the ring to be slipped from the arm the opening of the ring being formed to pass over the thinner portion of the arm. The latter is not weakened by being of less thickness at this point. as it is there of greater width. The swinging arm 60 at the end has a protective cover 79 to prevent the keeper and adjacent parts of the mechanism from being injured or rendered inoperative by snow. sleet or the like. The cross bar .38 has eye-bolts 80 which pivotally carry a brace 81. The latter has an extension 82 at an angle with the length of the brace and provided with studs 83 adapted to be pivot ally received by the eye-bolts. so that the brace is mounted to swing. At the free end. the brace has an offset finger St. The

arm (30. when in an operative position. that i is, a position at substantially right angles to the cross bar 58, is received between this finger 84 and the end of the brace. the latter being swung upwardly into position when the deliverer is set. A U-bolt 85 is secured to the cross bar 58 at the end remote from the brace 81 and carries a rod 86 which is freely movable. and a similarly movable rod 87 having at the extremity a book 88. At the side of the arm 60 adjacent to the U-bolt is a. socket 89 having a substantially vertical bore QOand in the side a recess 91. The lat ter is adapted to receive the end of the rod 86. When the arm is in an outwardly dis posed operative position the rod 86 engages the recess 91, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 7, to position the arm for the removal of the mail bag. As the catching arm of the mail car frees the bag from the member. the swinging arm is moved slightly in the direction of movement of the train. This movement which is limited by the brace and the finger 84, permits the retaining rod 8(' to drop from the socket S9, and as soon as the bag has been released. the arm. under the influence of the spring 64:. swings back into a normal inoperative position against the cross bar. At the same time the brace drops and swings downward into an inoperative position. The rod 89 can be utilized to hold the arm in an outward position. the hook 88 being positioned in the bore tit) ol the socket 89.

In Figs. 13. 14 and 15 is shown a cradle 92. fashioned from pressed fiber 0 any other suitable material and having a substantially vertical side 93 and a vertical front fl t. At the rear, the bottom 95 of the cradle is upwardly disposed. the vertical side 9 tapering downward to the rear end or lip W3. The side 93 has hangers 97 provided with eyes 98 at the upper ends, and connected by a cross rod 99. The eyes 98 are formed to be received by books 100 carried by the car upon a door 101 or at any other suitable point. The cross rod tilt is olisct from the hangers and provides convenient means for manipulating the cadle. At the 'l'ront. the hanger has an. extension plate 102 provided with a slot 103 adapted to receive an eyebolt ,ltlt or the like. to assist in mounting the cradle in position. A pin it)? secured to the car or other support by means ()i a chain ltiti is adapted to be located in the cyc-bolt ltll to hold the cradle in position. The bottom U3 has openings in? to permit rain water or the like to drain ol'l therethrough. At the upper edge of the front ill is an extension T08 which carries a spring clip 10!) the sides of which are separated and outwardly and inwardly curved. as is shown mo t clearly in Fig. la. Above the extension 10B is a bracket lltl having separated fingers lll above the clip ltlt The cradle constitutes a form of delivering mechanism with which a split ring T5 is used. This split ring has an elongated shank or extension 76 which is adapted to be arranged be tween. the lingers ill and to be held in place by the clip 10!). thereby positioning the ring for engagement with a catching arm 40. It will. be understood that the cadle can be mounted upon the door 101 or upon the side of the car. when used in connection with a railroad car. The post it) has an arm 40 similar to that carried by the car and athipted to receive the mail bag from the cradle ca rricd by the car. The bag is placed in the cradle in the doubled position and ran slide easily over the rear lip of the same when the ring is seized by the catching arm. A cradle of this form can also be mounted upon. the post to. as is shown in Fig. 12. The catching arm pre'lerably is upwardly and outwardly inclined. to avoid the necessity of hanging the bags very close to the track. and to insure that the arm engages the ring bel'ore the latter is brought into contact with the S-shaped part of the arm. number of bags. one only of which has a ring. can be delivered at once by suitably securing the bags together and positioning the ring for engagement by the catching II'IEPhFIRiSH].

Having thus described our invention. we claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. ln apparatus of the class described. a member adapted to be mounted upon a. railroad car and having a mail bag catching arm. said member being movatiile in the direction of its length and being rotatable, and means for simultaneously holding said member against. rotation. and against longitudiual movement in opposite dircctitms.

.2. in apparatus of the lass described. a mail bag receiving member movable in the direction ot its length and rotatable, and

means for locking said member against longitudinal movement whereby it is held against rotation.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a socket. a mail bag catching member carried by said socket and slidable in the direction of its length. said socket being formed to permit said member to rotate when said member is in a predetermined position. said socket further being formed to hold said member against rotation when said member is in a further predetermined position. and means for holding said member in position such that it cannot move lengthwise.

4. In apparatus of the class described. a socket having an opening of circular section and an opening of angular section. said openings bein alined and communicating. a rod having a part of circular section and adjacent thereto a part of angular section and arranged to slide in said openings of said socket. a support adapted to receive the end of said rod remote from said socket. a mail bag catching arm mounted upon said rod and rigid therewith. and removable means at said support for preventing a movement of said rod in the direction of its length.

5. In apparatus of the class described. an adjustable rod. and a mail bag catching arm. said arm having an elongated substantially straight part. a doubly curved part. and beyond the same a laterally disposed part secured to said rod whereby said arm is offset from said rod..

6. In apparatus of the class described. an adjustable member having a mail bag catching arm formed to receive an annular menr ber adapted to be secured to a mail bag. said arm at a point remote from its free end having a curved retaining part for the annular member. said arm further having a part at the side of said curved part remote from the free end of said arm formed to release the annular member from the arm.

7. In apparatus of the class described. a member upon a mail. car and having a mail bag catching arm. said arm being formed to receive an annular member adapted to be secured to a mail bag. said arm t'urther being formed to permit the release theret'rom of said annular member at a point remote from the free end of said arm.

In combimition with a member adapted to be adjustably mounted upon a mail car and having a laterally disposed mail bag catching arm. a split ring adapted to be secured to a mail bag and to be received by said arm. said arm. at a point adjacent to said member. being constricted. whereby said ring can be removed therefrom at the constricted point.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a

adapted to be adjustably mounted fixed standard having a hollow upper portion. a. post having a. stem movably located in said hollow portion. said post seating at the top of said standard. and mail bag handling mechanism carried by said post. said standard at opposite sides having extensions. said post having a lever pivoted thereon and provided with a slot to receive said extensions whereby said post can be held in a plurality of positions. said extensions having openings adapted to receive a locking member to secure said lever in position.

10. In apparatus of the class described. a support. a swinging arm mounted upon said support and having means for positioning a mail bag for delivery. a brace pivoted upon said support and having at the end means for engaging said arm whereby a limited movement thereof is permitted. a member pivoted upon said support and adapted to engage said arm to hold the same in an operative position. and resilient means for returning said arm to an inoperative position when said member is released. said arm releasing said member when a mail bag held bv said arm is delivered to a mail car.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a support. a swinging arm pivoted thereupon.

means for operatively positioning said arm.

and means tending to return said arm to an inoperative position. said arm having a keeper plate. and a keeper pivoted adjacent to said plate and normally forced thereagainst. said keeper plate and said keeper serving to hold a mail bag.

12. In apparatus of the class described. a support. a swinging arm pivoted upon said support. means for holding said arm in a normally inoperative position against said support. a movable brace adapted to engage said arm when the same is operatively positinned. and permitting a limited movement of said arm. and a member adapted to engage said arm at the side remote from said br ace and serving to hold said arm in an op erative position. said member being released through the limited movement of said arm. said arm. at the extremity. having a keeper plate. and at the side of said plate remote from said member. a swinging keeper, said arm further having means for normally holding said keeper against said plate, said keeper and said plate serving to hold a mail bag in position for delivery.

13. In combination. a support. a swinging arm pivoted upon said support, means tending to hold said arm in an inoperative position. a member adapted to engage said arm to hold the same against said means, said arm releasing said member when moved in a direction atvay from the same. a keeper plate at the end of maid arm. a keeper pivoted adjacent to said plate, means for normally forcing said keeper against said plate. and

an annular member adapted to be attached to a mail bag, said plate having means serving to assist in holding said annular member in position between said plate and said keeper.

14:. In apparatus of the class described, a cradle having the bottom upwardly disposed to form a rear wall and adapted to be removably mounted upon a support. said cradle having the sides sloping downwardly to said rear wall, said cradle further being adapted to hold a mail bag and to position the same for delivery.

15. In combination, a cradle adapted to be removably mounted upon a support, and a mail bag adapted to be held by said cradle and having an annular member adapted to be engaged by a mail bag catching arm, said cradle having means for removably positioning said member for delivery, said cradle further having the bottom upwardly inclined to form the rear wall whereby a bag can move out of said cradle over the rear wall thereof, without hindrance.

16. In combination, a cradle adapted to be removably mounted upon a support, a mail bag adapted to be held by said cradle and havin a member adapted to be engaged by a maiI bag catching arm and provided with a constricted extension, and a clip carried. by said cradle and adapted to engage said extension operatively to position said member.

17. In combination, a cradle adapted to be removably mounted. upon a support, a mail bag adapted to be held by said cradle and having an annular member formed to slide into position upon a mail bag catching arm, and having a constricted extension, a spring clip carried by said cradle and adapted to engage said extension operatively to position said member, and a bracket secured to said cradle and having fingers extending over said. clip at each side thereot to assist in positioning said member.

l8. In apl'iaratus of the class described, a cradle having the sides downwardly inclined toward the rear, the bottom of said cradle being upwardly curved to form a rear wall, hangers rigid with said cradle, and an extension at one side of said cradle and having an opening adapted to receive a locking member.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a rod, :1 maii bag catching arm having at the end a doubly curved part and a laterally disposed part secured to said. rod. said rod being movable in the direction of its length and being rotatable, and means for locking said rod against longitudinal movement whereby it is held against rotation.

20. In apparatus of the class described, a rod adapted to be adjustably mounted upon a mail car, a mail bag catching arm having an Sshaped. portion, and further having a laterally disposed portion rigidly secured to said arm whereby the same is oltset from said rod, said laterally disposed portion extending to the side of said rod remote from said arm and having a counterweight constituting a handle, a socket formed to hold said 'rod, and means for locking said rod in position, said rod when in one position with respect to said socket being rotatable, and when in another position with respect to said socket being held against rotation.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lillbU MONROE MILLER. GEORGE SUbUlliOli S'lElNBilltG-ER.

Witnesses MARY E. CROWLEY, L. IV. MrroHnLL. 

